Due to the ongoing pandemic, Foothill Fibers Guild is meeting via Zoom. Some in-person events are now being planned with COVID safety measures required. Members receive Zoom connection links and updated meeting information.
Programs are generally held the fourth Tuesday of the month January through May and September through November at the Community Room at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City. Doors open at 6:15 PM and a brief business meeting begins at 6:45 PM. The featured program begins about 7:00PM.
In June we have our annual picnic and tailgate sale, in July and August we are busy with the Nevada County Fair, and in December we hold an annual holiday pot luck gathering.
♦ UPCOMING PROGRAMS (Scroll to the bottom for recent programs)
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Mary Berry: Manipulation Color in Spinning to Weave
There are innumerable ways to spin a colorful braid of fiber and they will, most likely, all be pretty. But what if you want to spin specifically for weaving? And even more specifically, what if you want to spin to end up with a specific color presentation in your weaving? In this program, we will look at the most often used ways of dyeing fiber and yarn, and several ways that a spinner can manipulate his or her spinning fiber to bring about a certain color result in a woven cloth. For non-spinners, this presentation includes what to look for when buying dyed yarn to achieve predictable color in weaving.
Mary Berry is the Owner and Resident Teacher at the Fancy Fibers Fiber Arts Center in northeast Texas. Formerly a middle school teacher, she now teaches weaving, spinning, dyeing, rug hooking, and rug punch in her own shop and at fiber festivals nationwide. Her Fiber Arts Center sells supplies and equipment for the crafts she teaches, as well as spinning fiber from the Shetland sheep, Angora goats and Suri alpacas that she raised for 12 years. For Mary, every day is an opportunity to create something beautiful.
Mary will answer questions during her presentation but if anyone has any questions about dyeing or color in spinning ahead of time, let Jeanne (programs@foothillfibersguild.org) know and she can forward them to Mary in advance.
♦UPCOMING FFG EVENTS
Save the Date! Tuesday, June 21, 2022 – Summer Picnic
We are planning to meet in person at Pioneer Park from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM to celebrate the end of the Guild’s fiscal year and the beginning of summer. We will have a potluck and plan to bring your Guild Challenge project for Show & Tell. More details will follow.
Social Saturday Returns! On the third Saturday of the month. For the first time since early 2020, FFG will host Social Saturdays at the Community Room of the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City. Guild members will meet for knitting, spinning, and any other fiber fun you can carry with you. Members will receive details.
COVID precautions will be enforced. Stay tuned for details.
♦ UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
♦RECENT EVENTS
** On December 7, 2021 we enjoyed a great Holiday Party on Zoom, including social time/ sharing, games, and a Show and Tell slide show. You can view the slide show HERE
** A modified version of the Nevada County Fair was held August 11-15, 2021. The Guild displayed the work of members in Ponderosa Hall.
** Our Annual Picnic and Tailgate Sale was held via zoom on June 22, 2021
Browse the Challenge Gallery here: 2021 Guild Challenge Gallery
♦RECENT PROGRAMS
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Lynn Smetko: Design Deliberations
Lynn Smetko, a weaver of 25 years, enjoys the design phase of weaving the most. She combines a fascination with weaving, technology and art when designing for her 40-shaft computer- assisted loom. Photo-editing and weaving software are used to create weave plans that not only define fabric, but an entire piece. Lynn is a past president of Complex Weavers, past editor of the CW Journal, past president of the Fort Worth Weavers Guild, and also belongs to Cross Country Weavers, Contemporary Handweavers of Texas, Dallas Handweavers and Spinners Guild, and HGA. Her articles have appeared in the CW Journal and Weavers.
During our April 26th program, Lynn will be helping us think about design. Designing can be hard work. Do you have trouble deciding what or how to design for weaving? Are there too many choices or not enough? Are you stuck in a rut with your designs? Sometimes the best ideas come from considering the work of others. Many different approaches to weave design will be explored while looking at inspiring examples.
You can view an outline of the program here to help you follow along.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Sivia Harding: Beaded Button Bracelets
As an artist, Sivia Harding has worked with fiber as long she can remember. Obsessed in her youth, by adulthood she had dabbled in weaving, spinning, and dyeing among other activities, and came to knitting in the year 2000. Almost immediately she began to design. She is known mainly for her exceptional lace and bead designs. Her patterns also include accessories, garments, and imaginative Moebius creations. She has been widely published in books and collections, including Jared Flood’s Wool People series, online magazines such as Twist Collective and Knitty, and on Ravelry as Sivia Harding Knit Design.
During our March 22 program, Sivia will be teaching us how to make Beaded Buttoned Bracelets. Below you will find a materials list. You will want to have all of your materials on hand before the program.
Beaded Buttoned Bracelets – Adventurous beginner level
Working a beautiful beaded bracelet is a tutorial of beading techniques. We will learn a million things about beads and how they interact with different stitch patterns. You will emerge with inspiration and tons of ideas. The handout includes three additional bracelet patterns for you to enjoy making at home.
Skills required: Knitting, purling, casting on, binding off, simple increases and decreases, yarn over, I-cord experience a plus but not necessary.
Materials:
Yarn
Fingering weight yarn, approximately 20 yards
Needles
US 1 (2.25 mm) circular needle, double points, or pair of straights. Double points are preferred.
Notions
-Beads: 88 seed beads – 70 of one color, size, shape, or texture (MC) and 18 of another (CC). Please choose beads from any combination of the following: size 8/0, 6/0 or 5/0 triangle, magatama, round, or cube seed beads, preferably Japanese because of the larger inner hole. Please make sure your beads will fit onto your yarn before you come to class.
-Small steel crochet hook, size 14 (0.75 mm) for placing beads
-Decorative button of your choice (can be acquired later)
-Dental floss threader for stringing beads (found in drug and grocery stores)
-Yarn or tapestry needle
Homework:
String the 70 MC beads onto the outside end of yarn (not the center pull end) with the dental floss threader. Use the threader just like you would use a needle; thread the yarn end through the loop, and pick up beads with the long end. When you have picked up several beads, slide the stack of beads down the strand of yarn. Repeat until the desired number of beads have been strung.